The Third Stow Suspect Remains Free

Dorene Sanchez is the third suspect in the Bryan Stow beating case. But many observers don't expect her to serve time. (Published Tuesday, Jul 26, 2011)

Louie Sanchez, 29, and Marvin Norwood, 30, have been in custody since Thursday in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Arraignment proceedings for the day began at 8:30 a.m. At about 9:45 a.m., Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba said not all attorneys were present, so the court proceeded with other arraignments on the calendar.

Shortly before noon, the judge announced that the arraignments would be delayed until Aug. 10. Sandi Gibbons, public information officer for the District Attorney's Office, said defense attorneys requested the delay.

A bail hearing for Sanchez was scheduled for Aug. 1. A request from Norwood to reduce bail was denied.

Sanchez and Norwood appeared together in court standing about 20 feet apart, with their backs to the audience, wrote NBC4's Patrick Healy (@PatrickNBCLA), who was live tweeting from inside the courtroom.

The criminal complaint alleges that the suspects "did cut and disable the tongue, and put out an eye and slit (Stow's) nose, ear and lip.''

When asked to clairify the complaint's wording, Gibbons said, "Mr. Stow did not lose and eye, and he did not lose his tongue."

The complaint also alleges that the attack "caused Bryan Stow to become comatose due to brain injury and to suffer paralysis.''

The suspects are charged with mayhem, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and battery with serious bodily injury, all felonies, according to the District Attorney's Office. The criminal complaint also alleges that Sanchez was involved in attacks on two other people at the stadium on Opening Day.

NBC4 learned Thursday that the LAPD reportedly has surveillance video of an altercation between Stow and his attackers before the beating. Sources said the video shows Stow engaged in a verbal confrontation with two men.

Sanchez faces a maximum of nine years in prison, while Norwood faces up to eight years behind bars, according to prosecutors. The two are neighbors in Rialto.

Police said Stow was attacked solely because he was wearing Giants apparel while his attackers and the female getaway driver were wearing Dodgers gear.

Stow, a 42-year-old Santa Cruz paramedic and a father of two, suffered a cut tongue, lip and nostril, and lost an eye. A blow to the head caused brain damage and swelling that prompted surgeons to remove part of his skull. He is hospitalized at San Francisco General Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery after suffering a seizure due to a build of fluid on his brain.

The initial suspect arrested in the case, who was held on an alleged parole violation but never charged, has been released.

The assailants allegedly fled in a car driven by a woman. Dorene Virginia Sanchez (pictured, right), the sister of Louie Sanchez and the wife or girlfriend of Norwood (pictured, right), was also arrested as an accessory but released Friday on $50,000 bail. The 31-year-old is due in court Aug. 19, according to Los Angeles County Jail records.

Dorene Sanchez has not been charged. NBC 4 tried to interview her Monday afternoon at her home, but someone just inside the front door said she would have no comment on reports that she may testify for the prosecution.

"There's a continuing investigation, and that's all I can say," said Gibbons.

Norwood, according to the arrest records, stands about 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 250 pounds, roughly matching the description witnesses gave police of one of the attackers. Louie Sanchez was listed as 5 feet 11 inches tall and 175 pounds, which also closely matches a description given by witnesses.

Fontana police described Louie Sanchez as having neck tattoos when he was arrested for drunken driving in 2005, according to court records. The LAPD has described one of the assailants in the Stow attack as having possible tattoos on his neck.

Louie Sanchez lives with his parents, six houses away from Norwood. Police on Thursday searched the homes and towed a truck that neighbors said belonged to Norwood.

A neighbor said Norwood and Dorene Sanchez live with three children, including a toddler and two older children between 9 and 11 years old. Louie Sanchez's son is about 9 or 10 and visits his father on weekends, according to a neighbor.

Witnesses to the Dodger Stadium beating reported seeing a child about 10 years old in the car in which the two assailants fled after the attack. A law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that a child provided authorities with information about the crime.